U.S. News & World Report Releases 2012 Best High Schools For STEM Rankings

U.S. News & World Report today released the Best High Schools for STEM rankings, recognizing 250 schools around the country that are excelling in educating students in science, techology, engineering and math.

The list, which is topped by High Technology High School in Lincroft, N.J., can be viewed online at USNews.com.

This is the second year a ranking for Best High Schools for STEM has been released by U.S. News & World Report, recognized as America’s most trusted leader in school rankings in a variety of categories, including Best Colleges and Top Online Education Programs.

The list of top STEM high schools drew from those that were gold medal winners in the recently released U.S. News 2012 Best High Schools rankings. Schools were then judged based on the performance of their students in advanced placement math and science tests.

The list is "based on the key principle that students at the Best High Schools for STEM must participate and pass a robust curriculum of college-level math and science STEM courses," wrote U.S. News & World Report's Robert Morse in an article accompanying the list's release.

The importance of STEM learning has been center stage in recent months, thanks to efforts by high-profile proponents such as President Barack Obama and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The former NBA great has visited schools across the country promoting learning in general and STEM in particular.

In 2010, the president announced the launch of “Change the Equation,” a non-profit organization led by a group of American CEOs that aims to improve American students’ scores in math and science. He also has mentioned STEM in both his 2011 and 2012 State of the Union addresses. In the 2012 speech, he said American business leaders tell him they can’t find properly trained workers.

“Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job. Think about that – openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work,” he said. “That’s inexcusable. And we know how to fix it.”

At USNews.com, a high school ranking page offers information about the best high schools in the country, a list currently topped by the School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, Tex., Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Alexandria, Vir., and School of Science and Engineering in Dallas, Tex. There is also information about Best Charter Schools, Best Magnet Schools and Most Connected Classrooms.

U.S. News’ high school rankings are the trusted, authoritative resource for unbiased information about the nation’s best schools.